MRI recommended after normal mammogram because of risk factors

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pokadotz
pokadotz Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
MRI recommended after normal mammogram because of risk factors
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  • pokadotz
    pokadotz Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2014

    My mother developed breast cancer in her late 50's.  She opted for a mastectomy, and lived beyond the 5 year cure rate.  Unfortunately, a few years after being 'cured' she developed lung cancer. She had surgery and the cancer was removed.  Next she developed a malignant brain tumor, liver cancer and more cancer in her lungs.  She did not survive.

    I am 62 and my sister is 56.  We have had yearly mammograms and clinical examinations.  Because I have dense lumpy breasts I checked myself monthly so I knew what was normal for me.  About 10 years ago I felt some ropey thickening on my right breast so my doctor sent me for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound.  My right breast was fine but the radiologist took several pictures of my left breast.  He found microcalcifications and after reading all the pictures he determined they were normal.   We moved to a different city so my pictures were transferred to the radiology clinic there.  In the meantime digital mammography became the norm.  I kept getting callbacks...to check the same area of microcalcifications, but I never had to have a biopsy.  This year no callbacks, got the normal results in the mail, yeah!  Well, my sister wasn't so lucky.  She got a callback and the radiologist determined she needed a biopsy.  The results were DCIS and the biopsy was taken in a cluster of microcalcifications.  She is going to have a lumpectomy and radiation.  Neither my sister or her doctor felt anything, no lumps, no thickening.  Luckily the mammo spotted it early.

    I had an appointment with my doctor for a discussion regarding a blood draw.  I told her about my sister, and mentioned I had some tenderness under my left arm.  She felt a little thickening but no swollen lymph nodes.  She called the radiologist and they both concurred I needed to be scheduled for a MRI of the breast now, not in 6 months.   Just wanted to hear from anybody that needed an MRI after a normal mammogram.  I didn't think to ask any questions because I was taken by surprise!  

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  • WolfsLady
    WolfsLady Member Posts: 111
    edited May 2014

    First MRI's tend to give a lot of false positives so don't freak if you get a callback.  I had my first MRI this year and I got one.  I had to have a biopsy which was b9, like most are.  MRI's can pick up a lot of things that mammograms and US's miss.  Which can be both good and bad.  Mammograms are great, as far as they go.  But they do seem to miss a lot.  Especially with dense breasts.  Neither of my benign growths were found with them.  In my opinion they are great tool for high risk women.  It's great that you have a doctor who is being proactive.  If you aren't already seeing a breast specialist who assesses genetic risk and specializes in minimizing any, I'd suggest that you find one.  With your family history there are many things to consider that they can discuss with you.  I'm on what I call the 6 month plan.   Mammogram/US in May and MRI in Nov.  Rinse and repeat.  :)  If anything is happening in there I want to catch it early.  That works for me.  Feeling proactive.  I hope everything comes back clear.  

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  • Janetanned
    Janetanned Member Posts: 532
    edited May 2014


    I have a similar history. My mother passed away at 51 from breast cancer after surviving seven years after the initial diagnosis and treatment.  I had dense breast tissue and had had yearly clear mammos.  My sister had DCIS 7 yrs ago, which was treated with a lumpectomy and radiation.  About 6 yrs ago it was suggested that I alternate between MRIs and mammograms every six months.  Unfortunately, I did not follow through with this recommendation.  I had the initial MRI, which showed nothing too worrisome.  The following year my elderly father began to have health problems and needed my attention.  I missed my MRI and mammo and did not reschedule.  Fast forward two + years.  I went back for the missed mammo and found I was in deep trouble.  Biopsies followed.  The mammo/biopsy found DCIS in my right breast.  My surgeon pushed for an MRI even though my left side looked good according to the mammo.  An MRI biopsy found ILC in my left breast.  Surgeon suggested an ALND and double mastectomy.  4/30 lymph nodes had cancer.

    So, my suggestion based on my experience is to go for the MRI.  You might also want to get genetic testing done based on your family history. You have nothing to lose.  Unfortunately, mammos don't 'see' everything.  By using both procedures you can cover your bases and possibly catch anything early before it spreads.  The procedure itself is not so bad. 

    Good luck!

     

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  • pokadotz
    pokadotz Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2014

    Thank you both for responding!  After reading more about mri's for high risk breast cancer I can see why my doctor thinks it is important.  I see that there are many false positives so I'll keep that in mind if anything shows up.  I've had so many pictures taken of the microcalcifications in the past 10 years I tell myself if anything was wrong the radiologists would have found it by now.  At this time,  I'm more concerned about my sister's surgery on Wednesday, and the fact that this also puts my daughter in the high risk category.  She's a few years away from 40, the age they recommend a baseline mammo, so she is going to talk to her doctor about getting a mammo sooner than that. 

    Do either of you know how often false negatives show up on mammo's?  Thanks again for answering my post!

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